Acupuncture and Infertility - the Benefits
Acupuncture basically works by inserting extremely thin needles into places on the body considered to be acupuncture points. These points exist in pathways that are found on the exterior of the body and inside the body. When the acupuncture points are stimulated by needles the acupuncture points can control to some extent the way the body works.
Acupuncture and Infertility
For centuries acupuncture has been used to help people overcome fertility problems. It is usually recommended that people use a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicines for treating infertility problems. This combination seems to make an improvement in both follicular and ovarian function. Using acupuncture for infertility has shown to increase the flow of blood in the endometrium which helps make a thick lining.
Acupuncture is thought to perform best when used by women who have a functional problem such as irregular ovulation as opposed to women who are dealing with a structural problem. Researchers are not quite sure why acupuncture helps people with infertility problems, however some acupuncture experts believe its benefits occur due to increased flow of blood to the reproductive organs and it also seems to help keep hormones level stable.
Combining Traditional Infertility Treatments with Acupuncture
Some women use acupuncture for infertility along with other types of infertility treatments. Acupuncture can be beneficial since it can help women become more relaxed while they are involved with infertility treatments. Studies have indicated that while women are using in-vitro fertilization treatments the numbers of pregnancies increased in the studies' groups due to some women being treated with acupuncture.
A study was performed in Germany which has some interesting results. Eighty women were involved with a combination of IVF treatments and acupuncture treatments and thirty of these women became pregnant. Eighty other women in the study had received IVF treatments and did not have acupuncture and only twenty-one of these women became pregnant. In the United States a study was performed and the results showed that fifty-one percent of the women who combined IVF treatments with acupuncture for infertility became pregnant while only thirty-six percent of the women who took IVF treatments without acupuncture were able to become pregnant.
Patients usually take acupuncture for infertility for approximately three to four months before they receive an insemination or receive a donor egg or begin in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Clinical information from the Berkeley Center for Reproductive Wellness indicates that the best treatments for dealing with infertility combine traditional treatments with herbal medicines and acupuncture. Studies have shown there are few risks concerning taking acupuncture for infertility problems. Women should find an acupuncturist who specializes in using acupuncture for infertility issues.
